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The number one reason for giving up a diet is a lack of willpower, followed by boredom and a lapse after a night out with friends.

By far the most popular reason for starting a diet is unhappiness with body shape, chosen by half of those polled.

Meanwhile 27 per cent of respondents said they dieted to feel sexier and 19 per cent said their incentive was to get in shape for a summer holiday.

Just one per cent said they dieted to please their partner.

Meanwhile, women firmly believe that diets are an effective way of losing weight - with 71 per cent saying they do work.

And half of respondents said they had made permanent lifestyle changes - eliminating unhealthy food and drinks - after going on a diet.

Almost all women (92 per cent) lose some weight on a diet - even if it is only between 1lb and 3lbs for a quarter of those polled.

Meanwhile, a massive 85 per cent of women said they carry on calorie counting even after losing their target weight.

The vast majority of women (79 per cent) said they dieted more as they got older.

The survey found women typically first start dieting at 17, when they stop growing and putting on weight becomes more of a problem.

The average woman will go on diets at least four times in their 20s and a further five times in their 30s and six times in their 40s.

The findings were revealed in a new survey of 1,000 women by the diet firm Forza Supplements.

Forza Supplements managing director Lee Smith said: "The fact that the typical British woman has twice as many diets as she has lovers suggests that staying slim is a daily battle for millions of women.

"It's great to see that women still overwhelmingly believe that diets work and can bring about a lifestyle change.

"The truth is that if you do knuckle down you can get the body you desire. "

"At Forza, most of our clients are women in their 30s who are married or in settled relationships. They are comfortable with their partner and have allowed their weight to creep up."